Island



( No Model.)

S. GRIFFIN.

TRACK-OR ROAD 1351)..

. Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

lNvEN-ragi WITNEEEIEE;

N PETERS. mwwmlm nww. Washingkon. o. c.

a UNITED STATES W PATENT Genres:

SETH GRIFFIN, NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ON EHALF TO IVILLIAM HALKYARD, OF PRQVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

TRACK OR ROAD-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,126, dated February 26, 1884.

- I Application filed October 15, 1883. (No model.) I

f aZZI whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SETH GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tracks or Road-Beds,

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the IO art to which. it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. A

My invention relatesto tracks or roadways whereon horses are driven or 'speeded, as in driving-parks or race-courses; and it consists, essentially, in an improvedmanner or method of constructing said tracks, wherein I employ 2o grass sod, turf, or peat, arranged in layers or courses, and adapted to rest 'upon a subsoil, loam, gravel, or any other suitable founda tion, the said courses of sods, &c., being covered on top with a thin layer of loam or other 2 5 equivalent material, thereby producing a roadbed or track having elastic properties.

In the annexed sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents in vertical longitudinal section a portion of my improved track, showing sods 3o placed edgewise and resting upon a loam foundation and covered with alayer of loam. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same, with a portion of said loam covering removed, showing the courses of sods placed transversely 3 5 with the track. Figs. 3 and 4 represent views similar to the foregoing, except that the said courses are placed in rows diagonally with the track. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view, showing a modification in construct-ion, wherein the sods, &c.,' are placed fiatwise or horizontal and in layers to form the track. Fig. 6 represents a plan view of the same, also showing a portion of the top covering removed.

The following is a detailed description of 4 5 my invention and the manner of constructing the same.

A in the drawings represents portions or sections of a track adapted to be used in speeding horses, and consisting of the foundation b,

of loam or other suitable materiahwhich is lev- 5o eled off to receive the courses or layers 8 of sods or other fibrous material, the whole being covered with a thin layer, a, of loam or equiyalent dressing. 9

The object of my invention is to produce a track that is elastic, and which possesses in a certain degree the properties of a sprin To this end I make the foundation b of loam, &c., as above referred to, according to the nature 7 and condition of the ground as found in the different sections of country where the track is to be constructed and located, when, after leveling said foundation, I take pieces of grass sods s-say about ten inches square-from which the loose earth has been shaken, and place them edgewise and vertical, or nearly so, rest ing upon the prepared surface I), the layers or 7 courses being arranged across the width of the track, as fully shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the latter view showing the sods'arranged to break joints with each other in alternate rows.

8 represents the grass side, and a the root or fiber side, of said sods. In the arrangement of them I place the backs 8" of one row against the front 8 of the adjoining row, ant so on continuously, after which the top exposed edges of the sods s are completely covered with a layer, a, of loam or other suitable dressing, when, now, the whole surface of the track is somewhat compacted or compressed by means of a heavy roller, which operation serves to knit the roots and fibers of the sods, &c., more firmly together, and at the same time fills the interstices thereof with said top dressing, a, when, finally, the said surface a is planed or shaved by suitable means, thereby reducing and removing all former inequalities in its surface and leaving a smooth, unbroken, and elastic road-bed or track.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have represented a modio fied construction of the track, wherein the sods are shown resting fiatwise upon the base or foundation I), the several courses or layers arranged to overlap or break joints, as shown.

I prefer placing the grass side uppermost in 5 each course, the top layer thereof being adapted to be covered with the loam or dressing a, as before described. 2 represents simply an edgingstrip, which may be permanently secured along the inner and outer edges of the track to confine the sodded portion thereof.

I do not confine myself to any particular an rangement of the layers or courses of sods, &c., as they may be placed longitudinally, transversely, or diagonally with the length of the road or track or even sods of irregular sizes and outlines can be used. In the latter case the sods are dumped upon the prepared foundation, and then partially leveled off to obtain a proper depth or thickness, the whole being now covered with loam, &c., as before.

I contemplate the use of peat or other fibrous formations in lieu of the grass sods s for the purposes of my invention.

Among other advantages possessed or included in my invention it is practically found that horses can trot with great-er ease appar ently and make better speed on tracks of my construction as compared with the heavy and hard-rolled tracks heretofore in use. Horses having sore feet, or slightlylame even, can be urged around my improved track to advantage.

It will be observed that a horse in speeding over this track will receive a slight impulse at each step or impression thereon, due to the elastic reaction inherent in my improved con struction, and at the same time affording a secure and firm footing to the horse, yet ,however, not rigid enough to produce a jar and strain upon the animal as common with tracks in general use.

, Having thus described my invention, what 3,5 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In the track or road-bed herein described, having a suitably-prepared foundation, t e combination therewith of grass sods, turf, or 40 peat adapted to rest upon said foundation, and flllthGPtdflPtQd to be covered with loam or other suitable top-dressing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An elastic track or road-bed composed 45 of layers or courses of sods, peat, or other anal ogous substance, when arranged and adapted for use substantially as herein set forth.

3. The improved process in constructing tracks herein described, wherein grass sods, 5o turf, or peat are adapted to rest upon a suitably-prepared foundation or base, the upper edges or courses of said sods, &c., being covered with loam or other equivalent material, substantially as shown and specified.

4. The track or road-bed A herein described, consisting of the prepared foundation b, sods or turfs s, and top covering, a, the whole combined and arranged to produce an elastic or springy track, substantially as shown and 60 specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig' nature in presence of two witnesses.

SETH GRIFFIN.

Witnesses:

WM. R. DUTEMPLE, Gno. H. Rnnrne'ron. 

